Billy Crystal has had a long career on stage and screen, and while he is currently best known for bringing his vocal talents to a whole new generation of cinemagoers as Mike Wazowski in Disney’s Monsters Inc. franchise, the comedian is heading back to Broadway to revisit one of his old film roles: Mr. Saturday Night. The new musical will begin its run at the Nederlander Theatre in the spring, and will see Crystal returning to the character he played in his 1992 directorial debut, who just happens to be an aging comedian who is looking to make a big comeback, something that Crystal was quick to quip about in his statement.
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“Creating and portraying the 75-year-old comedian Buddy Young Jr. in the film of Mr. Saturday Night was one of the highlights of my career,” Billy Crystal said. “30 years ago I needed five hours of make-up to play him, now I just show up.”
He continued, “It’s been a joy to collaborate once again with the brilliant and hilarious Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel, my co-writers from the film, and to be joined by the wonderful team of Jason Robert Brown, Amanda Green, Ellenore Scott and directed by John Rando. And it doesn’t get any better than sharing a stage with Randy Graff, my old friend David Paymer, and Chasten Harmon. Together we have created a truly funny and moving musical comedy. I can’t wait to come back to Broadway next year at the Nederlander Theatre.”
The musical will star Randy Graff as Elaine Young, David Paymer reprising his Academy Award nominated role of Stan Yankelman, and Chasten Harmon as Annie Wells, who gives Buddy his shot at redemption. More casting is expected to be announced in the next few weeks. The show will feature a score by Jason Robert Brown, lyrics by Amanda Green and book by Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel and Crystal himself.
The official synopsis of the musical, which runs in line with movie, reads, “Mr. Saturday Night tells the story of Buddy Young Jr., an outrageous and outspoken comedian who found fame, if not fortune, in the early days of television. Now, some 40 years after his TV career flamed out, Buddy seeks one more shot at the spotlight, and while he’s at it, one last shot at fixing the family he fractured along the way.”
Billy Crystal became a well-known face in the 70s and 80s as the frequent host of Saturday Night Live and appeared in numerous movies of the following decades such as The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, City Slickers and Analyze This. As well as his more adult comedy roles, he became a big hit as the voice of the cyclopean Mike Wazowski in Monsters Inc. and its sequels, and he returned to voice the character again in the Disney+ series Monsters at Work. He last appeared on stage in the 700 Sundays, which he wrote and produced based on his autobiography.
Mr. Saturday Night will begin previews on March 1st, 2022, with its official premiere coming on March 31st. Tickets will be on sale to the general public from November 22nd. This comes to us from Deadline.
